Illuminating book light

Abstract

An illuminating device is described. The illuminating device may include a head, a neck and a body. The illuminating device may be manipulated into numerous positions including extended and nested positions so that the light source may be positioned inside the securing structure in the nested position and outside the securing structure in the extended position. Such an illuminating device may be desirable for use, for example, as a portable illuminator, book light, and travel light.

1. An illuminating device comprising:
 a circular housing with a light source therein; 
 a base configured to permit removable attachment to an article, the base including a clamp having first and second circular members for clamping an article there between and a biasing device configured for providing a biasing force to clamp an object between the first and second circular members; and 
 a neck comprised of an elongated flexible element, the neck attached at a first end to the housing and at a second end to the base thereby enabling the circular housing to be adjustably positioned with respect to the base; 
 wherein the neck is configured and the circular housing and base are shaped to permit the housing to be moved into a nested position inside of the base and a non-nested position in which the housing is spaced from the base and wherein the circular housing and at least one of the first circular member and the second circular member have a circular complimentary mating surface facilitating the positioning of the circular housing into the nested position, the circular complimentary mating surface of at least one of the first circular member and the second circular member including a circular cutout configured to interface with the circular housing. 
 
   
   
     2. The illuminating device of  claim 1 , wherein the complimentary mating surface of one of the first circular member and the second circular member includes a recess configured to interface with the housing in the nested position. 
   
   
     3. The illuminating device of  claim 2 , wherein the housing includes a controllable switching element thereon and the recess prevents user manipulation of the controllable switching element when the housing is in the nested position. 
   
   
     4. The illuminating device of  claim 1 , further comprising grip assisting means on an exterior surface of one of the first and second circular members for facilitating the gripping of the base during manipulation of the clamp. 
   
   
     5. The illuminating device of  claim 1 , wherein the neck further comprises movable links and said neck forms a loop when the housing is in the nested position. 
   
   
     6. The illuminating device of  claim 1 , wherein the first and second circular members of the clamp are held in a substantially parallel relationship when the housing is in the nested position. 
   
   
     7. The illuminating device of  claim 1 , wherein the light source is a light-emitting diode. 
   
   
     8. An illuminating device comprising:
 a housing including a light source therein; 
 a base configured to permit removable attachment to an article, the base including a clamp having first and second members for clamping an article there between and a biasing device for providing a biasing force to clamp an object between the first and second members; and 
 a neck comprised of an elongated flexible element, the neck attached at a first end to the housing and at a second end to the base thereby enabling the housing to be adjustably positioned with respect to the base; 
 wherein the neck is configured and the housing and base are shaped to permit the housing to be moved into a nested position inside of the base and a non-nested position wherein the housing is spaced from the base; 
 wherein the housing and both of the first member and the second member have a complimentary mating surface facilitating the positioning of the housing into the nested position, the complimentary mating surface of each of the first and second member being a cutout configured to interface with opposing sides of the housing; 
 wherein the housing further includes a controllable switching element and a first light transmissive portion thereon, the cutout on the first member providing user access to the controllable switching element and the cutout on the second member permitting light from the light source to be transmitted through the first light transmissive portion and the cutout on the second member when the housing is in the nested position. 
 
   
   
     9. The illuminating device of  claim 8 , further comprising grip assisting means on an exterior surface of one of the first and second members for facilitating the gripping of the base during manipulation of the clamp. 
   
   
     10. The illuminating device of  claim 8 , wherein the neck further comprises movable links and said neck forms a loop when the housing is in the nested position. 
   
   
     11. The illuminating device of  claim 8 , wherein the first and second members of the clamp are held in a substantially parallel relationship when the housing is in the nested position. 
   
   
     12. The illuminating device of  claim 8 , wherein the light source is a light-emitting diode.